Apparatus for casting brake shoes centrifugally



Aug. 25, 1,93.

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed A ril 4, 1930 T? $15K .5 him i x E i E N MNJL QM \Q NE h} INVENTOR WMB.UJM)QM LOW,

ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1936..

w. B. WEAVER -PARATUS FOR CASTING BRAKE SHOES CENTRIFUGALLY Filed April 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jama -4 Q1 IA' LQL e I ATTORNEY vENTbR wan- L B.

Aug. 25, 1936. w. B. WEAVER' 2,052,043

APPARATUS FOR CASTING BRAKE SHOES GENTRIFUGALLY I Filed April 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet'3 III I .INVENTO R wmgg 330M,

BYW" &1; v

I ATTORNEM .Au 25, 1936. w. B. WEAVER I 2,052,043

APPARATUS'FOR CASTING BRAKELSHOES CENTRIFUGALLY Filed April 4,1950 6- Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 25, 1936. W. B. WEAVER 2,052,043

APPARATUS FOR CASTING BRAKE SHOES CENTRIFUGALLY Filed April 4, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY 1936. B. WEAVER 1 9 3 APPARATUS FOR CASTING BRAKE SHOES CENTRIFUGALLY.

Fued April 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Y F MK r27 y INVENTOR LU uJM'O-" h 1 I l/UM M, I l HWJQQMZQQ1QQ ATTORNEY Y atenterl Aug. 25, 1936 APPARATUS FOR CASTING BRAKE SHOES CENTRIFUGALLY William B. Weaver, deceased, late of Birming ham, Ala., by Carrie J. Weaver, executrix, Birmingham, Ala.

Application April 4, 1930, Serial No. 441,431 1 m (01.22-45) s- PATENT OFFICE The invention relates to a process and apparatus for making brake shoes, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for casting brake shoes .centrifugally.

The objects of the invention include the provision of a relatively simple, dependable, highly eihcient and convenient process and apparatus of the type above indicated.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of. .this specification and illustrate by way of example one embodiment which the invention may take.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through one of b the casting machine units;

Figure 3 is a section on the line i a ure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line of Figure 2;

; Figure 5 is a section on the line t-t oi Figure 2; v

Figure 6 is a view, partly in section, showing the mold separated;

Figures 7 and 8 are sections t' ken on the lines g 1-1 and t-t of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9--t 01' Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a section on the line lit-4i! of Figure 9;

5 Figure 11 illustrates the complete ring of brake shoes when cast;

Figure 12 represents a section of the flat insert forming part of the brake shoe;

Figure 13 is a detail showing the brake shoe m pin holder in developed form; 1

Figure 14 is a perspective illustrating a section of the insert with a pin holder assembled thereto;

Figure 15 is a detail of the pouring pipe;

Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-18 of Figure 2; and

Figure 1'7 is a perspective of a completed brake shoe.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for conof Figj venience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures oi the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 17, one type of brake shoe is shown for the purposes of illustration, but it will be appreciated that other types of brake shoes may be made according to the teachings of the invention. The brake shoe 5 comprises an insert, indicated by it, having a central portion with slots 26, and opposed legs 24. Secured to the insert is a pin holder 22 having lugs 2'1, which fit in the slots 26, and are bent over thereunder. The bending of the pin holder 10 22 forms a hole 29, and further holes 28 are provided in the sides oi? the pin holder for assisting in attachment to the rigging of the braking mechanism on the railroad freight car, or other apparatus on which the shoe is used. 15 The metal insert it with the assembled pin holder at is cast within a body of metal it, which forms the body of the brake shoe. The brake shoe has l'-shaped lugs it on the ends thereof to cooperate with the brake rigging oi the car 20 on which the brake shoe is used. Having described the construction of one particular type of brake shoe, the machine for easting the brake shoe will now be described. Reierring now to F1 1, the machine as illusg trated comprises two casting units ti operated by a motor it therebetween. Pouring mechanisms one for each unit, indicated by M, are provided for pouring the cast iron. A solenoid brake V at may be provided on the motor shaft for stopping the rotation of the casting machines at the desired positions. The entire apparatus may be mounted upon a suitable foundation or base 34.

Referring now to Figure 2, each casting machine unit comprises a base 38 having a wall 31 35 securedthereto, which in turn supports a bearing 38 in which is iournaled a hub id, which is secured to the drive shaft of motor 30 through a suitable coupling. A suitable gland and packing, indicated by 39, is provided for making a 40 water-tight joint. Also secured to the base 36 is a bearing M, which supports a mold carrier 45. A further gland and packing, indicated by 42. is provided foriorming a water seal at this point.

The centrifugal mold proper comprises a mold carrier 45, which is bolted to the hub 40. It will be understood that the mold carrier 46 and hub 40 are journaled in the bearings 38 and 4|, and that water is introduced into the space indicated by 35 therebetween. Cooling water may be in- 50 troduced through pipe 200, and may leave through ipe 2M. If desired, the bearing 38 may be arranged to take substantially all of the weight of the rotary mold.

Bolted to the mold carrier 45 is an axially fixed brake shoe pin holder.

mild section 48. Also fitting within the mold carrier 48 is a removable mold section 41, which is secured to the arms 88.

An axially moving carriage 48 rests upon suitable tracks 48 (Figure 4), and has a rack 88 secured to the underside thereof. A drive shaft 8| is suitably Journaled on a base 88, and carries a spur gear 82 meshing the rack 88. A spur gear 84 is also'mounted on shaft 8|, which is driven by motor 58 for moving the carriage 48 axially.

\ Carriage 48 carries a support 88, which carries bearings 8!, in which is journaled the hub 82, which. in turn, carries the arms 88. Thus it will be seen that by moving the carriage 48 to the right inFigure 2, the mold section 41 may be separated from the mold section 48.

It will be understood that the mold sections 48 and 41 are suitably shaped to mold the ring of brake shoes indicated in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 3, the mold has a plurality of recesses 88 for the pin holders 22 and a plurality of recesses 81 for the lugs 28 and intermediate body of metal 88. In addition, the mold section 4'! is provided with a plurality of-tongues 88, which fit in grooves 84 in the mold section 48 in such relation as to insure the parts always fitting in the same relation to each other.

It will be understood that before the metal is poured a ring of inserts, as shown in Figure 12,.

and having the pin holders 22 assembled in position, is placed in the mold as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. To assist in holding this ring of insertsin position before casting, and to assist also in removing the ring of brake shoes from the mold, a holding arrangement is provided.

Referring more particularly to Figures 5 and 7 to 10, the mold sections 48 and 41 are provided with alined recesses. I4 and 18 in which L-shaped hooks 12 are provided. The end of hook 12 is adapted to pass through the holes 28 of the pin holder 22, as shown best in Figure 10. The hooks 12 are secured to a ring H and are supported on guides 88, which are secured to the mold section 41. -The ring*li is further supported in guides 18 between the arms 88 and the mold section 41.

The coil spring 18 is provided to normally hold the hooks 12 out of engagement with the brake shoe pin holder 22. A notch I1 is provided in the ring 'II, and a latch l8"engages the notch 11 to hold the hooks I2 in the holes" 28 of the When the latch 18 is tripped, it will be understood that the spring '18 pulls the hooks 12 out of the pin holders.

If desired, apin 18 may be secured to the ring 'H and cam I8 operated by suitable means. such as a solenoid may be provided for engaging the pin 18 to move the'ring H to allow latch 18 to engage in notch 11.

For pouring the cast iron a pouring arrangement 82 for each unit is provided. The pouring arrangement comprises a ladle 88 pivoted by vpivot 8i on a support 82, which is carried by carriage 48. A pair of rollers 84 and 88 are supported by the pedestal 82, and a line 88 passes over these rollers. The line 88 is fastened at one end into a lug 88 secured to the ladle 88, and at the other end it passes around a drum 8'! which is driven by a motor 88, both of which are mounted on thecarriage 48. Thus it will be seen by driving motor 88 the ladle 88 may be lifted about its pivot 8 i, and the contents poured into trough 88.

To carry the molten metal into the mold a trough 88, a water-cooled pipe 8i and a spout 82 are provided. The water-cooled pipe 8! is carried by a roller bearing 81 and by a support 88. The trough 88 may be clay lined. as indicated by 88 in Fl e 16.

The water-cooled pipe 8! is made up of an inner tube 88 and an'outer Jacket 84 with a partition 282 extending therebetween, so that cooling water introduced through pipe 88 must flow the length of the pipe 8i before it can fiow out through pipe 88.

One of the arms 88 may have a recess which is adapted tobe engaged by a projection 288, which may be operated by a solenoid or in any other manner to hold the casting machine in a predetermined position when desired. A suitable chain 284 supported by a suitable overhead carrying arrangement (not shown), and a second chain 288 also form part of the apparatus for carrying out the invention. I

Thus. apparatus has been described which comprises two complete casting machine units, which are to run by the same motor 88. It will be understood that these units are identical in s construction, and that the operation thereof is identical and they are adapted to be operated simultaneously.

To carry out the process of making a brake shoe according to the invention and utilizing the apparatus above described, avring' of material, as indicated in Figure 12, is formed ,of sufficient length to fit within the molding machine. This material may be of steel and the ends of the ring may be arranged to come at a point between the finished brake shoes. The pin holders 22 are put in position with their projections 21 fitting in the slots 28 and bent thereunder, and the composite insert is placed in the mold with the pin holders in the recesses 88. If convenient, the

the carriage 48. The cam 18 is then operated to rotate ring II which causes the hooks 12 to engage in the pin holders 22 of opposite shoes of the ring of brake shoes, as indicated particularly in Figure 8. This causesthe latch 18 to drop in the notch 11 to hold the hooks 12 in position.

The motor 88 is started and the centrifugal mold is driven up to suitable speed for centrifugal casting. The exact amount of molten iron is placed in the ladle 88 by a suitable bucket or other mechanism (not shown) for casting a ring of brake shoes. It will be understood that sumcient iron must be placed in the ladle 88 to form a ring of brake shoes whose inside diameter is substantially equal to the diameter of the wheel that it is to work with.

When the main motor 88 has gotten the centrifugal molds up to speed, the ladle tilting motor 88 is started, and the ladle 88 is tipped pouring the molten metal into the trough 88 whence it flows through pipe 8i and spout 82 into the annular mold space. It will be understood that spout 82 is so arranged and is disposed in such position and direction to fill the mold space while the mold is rotating with a minimum of splashing of the molten iron.

The molds are rotated until the iron is set at which time the motor 88 is stopped with the molds in such position to allow the pin 288 to be inserted in its recess in the arm 88. The ring of brake shoes is preferably removed from the mold while still at a bright yellow heat to increase the life of the mold. The carriage motor 55 is then started and the carriage moves to the position shown in Figure 6. The hooks 12 being engaged with the ring of brake shoes assist in pulling the entire ring of brake shoes with the movable mold section l1. While in the position shown in Figure 6, the chain 205 is engaged with the pin holder of an adjacent brake shoe of the ring of brake shoes, and the chain 204 is engaged with the pin holder of an opposite brake shoe 0! the ring of brake shoes. Ii necessary thecarriage probably'be found suitable for the permanent mold parts, and the practice of removing the castings from the machine as soon as possible after they are set, thereby keeping the machine at as near a uniform temperature as possible, will be found to be advantageous in increasing the life of the mold.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed. out in the annexed claims, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without WWW Wm no n'llrib oi the invention.

ror a plurality of circularly arranged brake shoes, means for separating said parts axially, holding members mounted on one 01 said parts for engaging in recesses in the plurality of brake shoes f or fixing said brake shoes in said part. and means for introducing molten metal into the mold space.

6. In apparatus for casting a device centrifugally, an annular mold having an axially fixed section and an axially movable section, means for readily separating said sections, means for rotating said mold,holding means on said axially movable section to carry the device with that mold section when the sections are separated,

and means for anchoring said device to a relamolten metal.

CARRIE J. WEAVER, Ezecutrim of William B. Weaver, Deceased. 

